After the UN Summit against NCDs: Will they do the job properly?

News from
Sep 27, 2011

Focus: After the Summit

Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases

The final document

UNO "The General Assembly adopted by consensus the resolution titled "Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases" (pdf)

Pharma supporters ensure new drugs for cancer are not on the UN agenda

Little about treatement for canceer at the UN Summit

Guardian Online "The EU and USA lobbied hard to prevent any mention in the UN declaration on non-communicable diseases of legal loopholes to allow poor countries to obtain new drugs for cancer, heart and lung diseases and diabetes on the cheap," writes Sarah Boseley on Guardian Online.

Network MMS: What's up?

Symposium 2011: Health – a Human Right

Basel, 8 November 2011

Health is a human right: too often forgotten, this is the central issue of international health policy and health cooperation. And yet millions of people die each year in developing countries due to easily preventable diseases. This is a basic violation of the human right to health. In addition, women, minorities and marginalized people often have limited access to health care due to poorly functioning health care systems. That is why this year's Swiss Health Cooperation Symposium, which will be organized by the Swiss Red Cross and the Network Medicus Mundi Switzerland will reflect debate question how the human right to health could be strengthened in the Swiss Foreign Health Policy as well as in Global Health.

New media: drivers of democratization and development?

Basel, 2 December 2011

The topic of the annual symposium of the Novartis Foundation is: “New media: drivers of democratization and development?” The morning session will focus on new media as a tool of democratization.The afternoon session looks at the potential of Information and Communication Technology for development and health. Specifically, speakers will present key learnings on how e-health applications can improve access to quality healthcare. You can register for free starting at the beginning of October 2011 on the Novartis Foundation website:

Africa and Switzerland: Women in Processes of Religious and Secular Transformation

Basel, 14. - 16. Oktober 2011

mission 21 At this conference the roles and positions ofwomen in church and society in African nation states will be analysed and discussed from a women’s perspective. Its main objective is to foster awareness and a differentiated perception concerning societal transformation processes. This convention aims at bringing together academics, practitioners and interested individuals both from African countries, Switzerland and Germany to share ideas, problems, experiences and prospects for future collaboration.

Mother and Child health - before and after 2015

Brescia, 28 October 2011

MMI The future of mother and child health is the focus of a conference and workshop jointly organized by Medicus Mundi Italy and the Medicus Mundi International Network, on Friday, 28 October 2011 in Brescia, Italy, in the wonderful setting of Santa Giulia, declared World Heritage by UNESCO just a few months ago. The program of the meeting is available now: see below. For all other information, please consult the conference website. Your early registration would be appreciated.

Zürich, 26. November 2011

10 Years after the Doha Declaration: The future agenda at the interface of Public Health, Innovation and Trade

Geneva, 23 November 2011

The Graduate Institute The annual high-level symposium of the Global Health Programme explores critical issues and new developments in global health with particular relevance to the intersection of health, foreign policy and trade. This year’s symposium will focus on the future agenda at the interface of public health, innovation and trade and will be held under the auspices of Madame Ruth Dreifuss, former chairperson of the WHO Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health (CIPIH). The Graduate Institute provides a neutral, academic platform that brings together various stakeholders.

Gender in Medicine: it is about improving quality

Basel, 8-9 December 2011

Swiss TPH The Autumn Symposium 2011 will focus on “Gender in medicine: it is about improving quality” and will commemorate the 5 year period funded by the Gabriele Trust Foundation to forward women’s health and gender research at the Medical Faculty of the University of Basel. This 16th Symposium is led by the Gender and Health Unit (GHU) of the Department Epidemiology and Public Health.

Health Care and Management in Tropical Countries

Basel, 12 March - 15 June 2012

Swiss TPH This 3 months full time course aims at introducing participants to the fundamentals of international health with a range of skills and knowledge needed to work as a member of a district management team. The participatory course is designed for people who already have a first qualification in a health-related profession, and at least two years' experience. Scholarships offered to participants from countries with resource constraints by SDC and the Canton of Basel-Stadt allow an exciting intercultural teaching and learning setting. Participants learn both from the teaching of a wide range of experts, and also from each others' experience. The course is accredited by tropEd and the University of Basel as a post-graduate academic Course which leads to the degree "University Professional".

Closing the gap: Policy into practice on social determinants of health

WHO discussion paper for Rio Conference, 19-21 October 2011

WHO "The Discussion Paper will inform proceedings at the World Conference on Social Determinants of Health about how countries can implement action on social determinants of health, including the recommendations of the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health. It does not provide a blueprint, but instead lays out the key components that all countries need to integrate in implementing a social determinants approach. The paper aims to show that, in all countries, it is possible to put policy into practice on social determinants of health to improve health and well-being, reduce health inequities and promote development. The final version of the Discussion Paper was developed following extensive consultation with Member States, academia, civil society, other UN agencies and within the WHO Conference Secretariat itself. A public web consultation was undertaken in May and June 2011, with almost 200 submissions received."